Refrigerator

ABSTRACT

A refrigerator includes a refrigeration cycle system including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator through which a refrigerant sequentially passes; a blower fan sending air cooled by the evaporator to a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment; and a damper regulating air sent from the evaporator to the refrigerator compartment, in which when the freezer compartment temperature is not satisfactory and the refrigerator compartment temperature is not satisfactory, the refrigerator operates in a concurrent operation mode in which the compressor is operated, the damper is opened, and first voltage is applied to the blower fan, and when the freezer compartment temperature is not satisfactory and the refrigerator compartment temperature is satisfactory, the refrigerator operates in a freezer compartment single operation mode in which the compressor is operated, the damper is closed, and second voltage lower than the first voltage is applied to the blower fan. Accordingly, it is possible to minimize the power consumed in the freezer compartment single operation mode.

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(a), this application claims the benefit ofKorean Patent Application Nos. 10-2013-0010501, 10-2013-0010503, and10-2013-0010504 all filed on, Jan. 30, 2013, which are herebyincorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator and a method ofoperating the same, particularly a refrigerator sending cold air to thestoring compartment and a method of operating a refrigerator.

2. Background

In general, refrigerators are apparatuses that cool storing chamberssuch as a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment, using arefrigeration cycle system composed of a compressor, a condenser, anexpansion device, and an evaporator.

Refrigerators may include a body having a freezer compartment and arefrigerator compartment, a freezer compartment door connected with thebody and opening/closing the freezer compartment, and a refrigeratorcompartment door opening/closing the refrigerator compartment. Therefrigerators may be equipped with a blower fan sending air to theevaporator. The air cooled by the evaporator can be supplied to thefreezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment, or to the freezercompartment by operating the blower fan. The refrigerators may include arefrigerator compartment damper that passes or stops the air supplied tothe refrigerator compartment. In the refrigerators, with therefrigerator compartment damper open, some of the air cooled by theevaporator can flow into the refrigerator compartment and the other ofthe air can flow into the freezer compartment.

The blower fan may start with the start of the compressor and stops withthe stop of the compressor. That is, the blower fan may enable the airin the freezer compartment or the refrigerator compartment to exchangeheat with the low-temperature refrigerant passing through the evaporatorby starting with the start of the compressor, and may stop with the stopof the compressor.

SUMMARY

An effort has been made to provide a refrigerator that can minimizepower consumption and a method of operating a refrigerator.

A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present inventionincludes: a body having a freezer compartment and a refrigeratorcompartment formed therein; a refrigeration cycle system disposed in thebody, including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and anevaporator through which a refrigerant sequentially passes, and coolingair with the refrigerant; a blower fan sending the air cooled by theevaporator to the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment;and a damper regulating the air sent from the evaporator to therefrigerator compartment, in which when the freezer compartmenttemperature is not satisfactory and the refrigerator compartmenttemperature is satisfactory, the refrigerator operates in a concurrentoperation mode in which the compressor is operated, the damper isopened, and first voltage is applied to the blower fan, and when thefreezer compartment temperature is not satisfactory and refrigeratorcompartment temperature is satisfactory in the concurrent operationmode, the refrigerator operates in a freezer compartment singleoperation mode in which the compressor is operated, the damper isclosed, and second voltage lower than the first voltage is applied tothe blower fan.

When the freezer compartment temperature becomes satisfactory in thefreezer compartment single operation mode, the compressor may be stoppedand the voltage applied to the blower fan may be stopped

When the freezer compartment temperature becomes satisfactory in thefreezer compartment single operation mode, the refrigerator may operatein blower fan-additional operation in which the compressor is stoppedand the blower fan keeps operating for a predetermined time.

When the predetermined time passes, the voltage applied to the blowerfan may be stopped.

The second voltage may be applied to the blower fan in the blowerfan-additional operation.

Third voltage lower than the second voltage may be applied to the blowerfan in the blower fan-additional operation.

A method of operating a refrigerator according to an embodiment of thepresent invention includes: a step of operating a compressor, of openinga damper regulating air cooled by an evaporator and supplied to therefrigerator compartment, and of applying first voltage to a blower fansending the air cooled by the evaporator to the freezer compartment andthe refrigerator compartment, when the freezer compartment temperatureis not satisfactory and the refrigerator compartment temperature is notsatisfactory; and a step of keeping the compressor operating, of closingthe damper, and of applying second voltage lower than the first voltageto the blower fan, when the freezer compartment temperature is notsatisfactory and the refrigerator compartment temperature becomessatisfactory.

The method may further include a step of stopping the compressor andstopping the second voltage applied to the blower fan, when the freezercompartment temperature becomes satisfactory while the second voltage isapplied to the blower fan.

The method may further include a step of stopping the compressor andkeeping the blower fan operating for a predetermined time, when thefreezer compartment temperature becomes satisfactory while the secondvoltage is applied to the blower fan.

When the predetermined time passes, the second voltage applied to theblower fan may be stopped.

The second voltage may be applied to the blower fan for thepredetermined time.

Third voltage lower than the second voltage may be applied to the blowerfan for the predetermined time.

A refrigerator according to an embodiment the present inventionincludes: a body having a freezer compartment formed therein; arefrigeration cycle system disposed in the body, including a compressor,a condenser, a hot line, an expansion device, and an evaporator throughwhich a refrigerant sequentially passes; a blower fan circulating theair in the freezer compartment through the evaporator and the freezercompartment; a condenser fan sending air to the condenser; and ahumidity sensor sensing humidity, in which when the freezer compartmenttemperature is not satisfactory and the humidity sensed by the humiditysensor is less than a predetermined level, first power is inputted tothe compressor and the condenser fan is operated in a first rotationalspeed, and when the freezer compartment temperature is not satisfactoryand the humidity sensed by the humidity sensor is at a predeterminedlevel or more, second power higher than the first power is inputted tothe compressor and the condenser fan is rotated at a second rotationalspeed lower than the first rotational speed.

A method of operating a refrigerator according to an embodiment of thepresent invention includes: a step of sensing humidity with a humiditysensor; and a step of operating a condenser fan sensing air to acondenser at a first rotational speed and of inputting first power to acompressor compressing a refrigerant, when the sensed humidity is lessthan predetermined humidity and the freezer compartment temperature isnot satisfactory, and of operating the condenser fan at a secondrotational speed lower than the first rotational speed and inputtingsecond power higher than the first power to the compressor, when thesensed humidity is at the predetermined humidity or more and the freezercompartment temperature is not satisfactory.

A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present inventionincludes: a body having a freezer compartment formed therein; arefrigeration cycle system disposed in the body and including acompressor, a condenser, a refrigerant control valve, an expansiondevice, and an evaporator through which a refrigerant sequentiallypasses; and a lower fan circulating the air in the freezer compartmentthrough the evaporator and the freezer compartment, in which when thefreezer compartment temperature is not satisfactory, the compressor andthe blower fan are started first and then the refrigerant control valveis opened, and when freezer compartment temperature becomes satisfactoryafter the refrigerant control valve is opened, the refrigerant controlvalve is closed first and then the compressor and the blower fan arestopped.

The refrigerant control valve may be opened, when a first predeterminedtime passes after the compressor and the blower fan are started.

The compressor and the blower fan may be stopped, when a secondpredetermined time passes after the refrigerant control valve is closed.

The refrigerator may further include a condenser fan sending air to thecondenser, in which the condenser fan may be operated with thecompressor and stopped with closing of the refrigerant control valve.

A method of operating a refrigerator according to an embodiment of thepresent invention includes: a step of starting a compressor compressinga refrigerant and of starting a condenser fan sending air to a condenserand a blower fan circulating air through an evaporator and the freezercompartment, when the freezer compartment temperature is notsatisfactory; a step of opening a refrigerant control vale disposedbetween the condenser and the evaporator, when a first predeterminedtime passes after the compressor, the condenser fan, and the blower fanare started; a step of stopping the condenser fan and closing therefrigerant control valve, when the freezer compartment temperaturebecomes satisfactory; and a step of stopping the compressor and theblower fan when a second predetermined time passes after the refrigerantcontrol vale is closed.

A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present inventionincludes: a body having a freezer compartment formed therein; arefrigeration cycle system disposed in the body and including acompressor, a condenser, a refrigerant control valve, an expansiondevice, and an evaporator through which a refrigerant sequentiallypasses; and a blower fan sending air cooled by the evaporator to thefreezer compartment, in which when the freezer compartment temperatureis not satisfactory, the compressor is started first and then therefrigerant control valve is opened and the blower fan is started, andwhen freezer compartment temperature becomes satisfactory after therefrigerant control valve is opened, the refrigerant control valve isclosed first and then the compressor and the blower fan are stopped.

The refrigerant control valve may be opened when a first predeterminedtime passes after the compressor is started, and the blower fan isstarted when the first predetermined time passes after the compressormay be started.

The compressor and the blower fan may be stopped, when a secondpredetermined time passes after the refrigerant control valve is closed.

The refrigerator may further include a condenser fan sending air to thecondenser, in which the condenser fan may be operated with thecompressor and stopped with closing of the refrigerant control valve.

A method of operating a refrigerator according to an embodiment of thepresent invention includes: a step of starting a compressor compressinga refrigerant and of starting a condenser fan sending air to acondenser, when the freezer compartment temperature is not satisfactory;a step of opening a refrigerant control vale disposed between thecondenser and the evaporator, when a first predetermined time passesafter the compressor, the condenser fan, and the blower fan are started;a step of stopping the condenser fan and closing the refrigerant controlvalve, when the freezer compartment temperature becomes satisfactory;and a step of stopping the compressor and the blower fan when a secondpredetermined time passes after the condenser fan is stopped.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of the present invention will be furtherunderstood with reference to the accompanying drawings described belowwith the following detailed description of embodiments of the presentinvention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the interior of the body the refrigeratoraccording to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view when cooling both of the freezercompartment and the refrigerator compartment of the refrigeratoraccording to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional plan view when cooling only the freezercompartment of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a view showing a refrigeration cycle system of therefrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of the refrigerator according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating the operation of a compressor, a blowerfan, a refrigerator compartment damper, and a condenser fan, based onthe temperatures of the freezer compartment and the refrigeratorcompartment of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a refrigeratoraccording to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating the operation of a compressor, a blowerfan, a refrigerator compartment damper, and a condenser fan, based onthe temperatures of the freezer compartment and the refrigeratorcompartment of a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a refrigeratoraccording to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating the operation of a compressor, a blowerfan, a refrigerator compartment damper, and a condenser fan, based onthe temperatures of the freezer compartment and the refrigeratorcompartment of a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a refrigeratoraccording to the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a control block diagram of a refrigerator according to afourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a view showing operation modes according to the temperatureof the refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator according to thefourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling therefrigerator according to the fourth embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 15 is a view illustrating the operation of a compressor, a blowerfan, a condenser fan, and a refrigerant control valve, based on thetemperature of the freezer compartment of a refrigerator according to afifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling therefrigerator according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a view illustrating the operation of a compressor, a blowerfan, a condenser fan, and a refrigerant control valve, based on thetemperature of the freezer compartment of a refrigerator according to asixth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling therefrigerator according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of theembodiments, like components may be given like names and referencenumerals and they may not be additionally described.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the interior of the body the refrigeratoraccording to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is across-sectional plan view when cooling both of the freezer compartmentand the refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectionalplan view when cooling only the freezer compartment of the refrigeratoraccording to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4is a view showing a refrigeration cycle system of the refrigeratoraccording to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The refrigerator includes a body 2, a refrigeration cycle system 4, ablower fan 6, and a refrigeration compartment damper 8. Therefrigeration cycle system 4 is disposed in the body 2. Therefrigeration cycle system 4 includes a compressor 40, a condenser 44,an expansion device 46, and an evaporator 49 through which a refrigerantsequentially passes. The refrigerant passing through the evaporator 49can cool air.

A freezer compartment F and a refrigerator compartment R are formed inthe body 2. The body 2 may include a freezer compartment door 21opening/closing the freezer compartment F and a refrigerator compartmentdoor 22 opening/closing the refrigerator compartment R. The body 2 mayinclude a barrier 24 that separates the freezer compartment F and therefrigerator compartment R. The body 2 may include an outer casing 26that defines the external appearance of the refrigerator, a freezerinner casing 28 that is disposed with the front open inside the outercasing 26 and includes the freezer compartment F therein, and arefrigerator inner casing 30 that is disposed inside the outer casing 26and includes the refrigerator compartment R therein. A machine room (notshown) where the compressor 40 or the like can be installed can beformed in the body 2. A cooling chamber P where the evaporator 49 isinstalled may be formed in the body 2. Air can be cooled by theevaporator 49 while passing through the cooling chamber P. The coolingchamber P may communicate with at least one of the freezer compartment Fand the refrigerator compartment R. The cooling chamber P may be formedinside one of the freezer inner casing 28 and the refrigerator innercasing 30. The cooling chamber P may be formed between the freezer innercasing 28 and the outer case 26. The cooling chamber P may be formedbetween the refrigerator inner casing 30 and the outer case 26. In thebody 2, both of the freezer compartment F and the cooling chamber P maybe formed inside the freezer inner casing 28. A discharge panel 32 maybe disposed inside the freezer inner casing 28, the cooling chamber Pmay be formed between the back plate of the freezer inner casing 28 andthe discharge panel 32, and the freezer compartment F may be formedahead of the discharge panel 32. Cold air discharging-to-freezercompartment channels 33 through which the air cooled by the evaporator49 is discharged to the freezer compartment F may be formed through thedischarge panel 32. A freezer compartment cold air return channel 34through which the air in the freezer compartment F flows into thecooling chamber P may be formed through the discharge panel 32. A coldair discharging-to-refrigerator compartment channel 35 through which theair in the cooling chamber P or the freezer compartment F is dischargedinto the refrigerator compartment R may be formed through the barrier24. A refrigerator compartment cold air return channel 36 through whichthe air in the refrigerator compartment R is discharged into the coolingchamber P or the freezer compartment F may be formed through the barrier24.

The compressor 40, condenser 44, expansion device 46, and evaporator 49of the refrigeration cycle system 3 may be connected by refrigerantchannels. The refrigerant channels may be formed by refrigerant tubesthrough which a refrigerant passes.

The compressor 40 can suck and compress the refrigerant evaporated bythe evaporator 49 and then discharge the compressed refrigerant. Thecompressor 40 may be connected with the evaporator 49 through acompressor intake channel 41. The refrigerant in the evaporator 49 maybe sucked into the compressor 40 through the compressor intake channel41. The compressor 40 may be connected with the condenser 44 through acompressor discharge channel 42. The refrigerant compressed by thecompressor 40 may be guided to the condenser 44 through the compressordischarge channel 42. The compressor 40 may be installed in the machineroom formed in the body 2. The compressor 40 may be a rotary compressor,a scroll compressor, and a linear compressor. When the higher power offirst power and second power is inputted, the compressor 40 candischarge a refrigerant higher in temperature and pressure than when thelower power is inputted. The power inputted to the compressor 40 may bechanged by changing the current or the voltage. The compressor 40 canchange the temperature and pressure of a refrigerant by changing thefrequency. The compressor 40 can discharge a high-temperature andhigh-pressure refrigerant, when the first frequency is applied, and itcan discharge a refrigerant lower in temperature and pressure than whenthe first frequency is inputted to the compressor 40, when the secondfrequency lower than the first frequency is applied.

The condenser 44 can condense the refrigerant compressed by thecompressor 40. The condenser 44 may be disposed in the machine roomformed in the body 2 or may be disposed in the body 2 and exposed to theoutside.

The refrigerator may further include an condenser fan 50 sending air tothe condenser 44. The condenser fan 50 may be disposed in the machineroom formed in the body 2 and can send the air outside the refrigeratorto the condenser 44. The refrigerant passing through the condenser 44can exchange heat with the air sent from the condenser fan 50. Thecondenser fan 50 may start with the start of the compressor 40 and stopwith the stop of the compressor 40. The condenser fan 50 may include amotor and a blower rotated by the motor and it may be a centrifugal fanor an axial fan.

A condenser exit channel 45 guiding the refrigerant that has passedthrough the condenser 44 may be connected to the condenser 44. Therefrigerant condensed by the condenser 44 may flow to the expansiondevice 46 through the condenser exit channel 45. The refrigeration cyclesystem 4 may further include a hot line 52 through which the refrigerantthat has come out from condenser 44 passes. The hot line 52 can removedrops of the refrigerant condensed on the refrigerator after passingthrough the condenser 44 by evaporating them. The hot line 52 may bedisposed after the condenser 44 in the refrigerant flow direction. Thehot line 52 may be formed by a refrigerant tube disposed at the portionbeing in contact with the doors of the body 2. The hot line 52 may bedisposed in the body 2 and discharge heat through the outer casing 26.The refrigerant that has passed through the condenser 44 may condensethrough the hot line 52 by discharging heat. The hot line 52 may bedisposed where the body 2 and the freezer compartment door 21 are incontact or where the body 2 and the refrigerator compartment door 22 arein contact. The refrigerant drops on where the body 2 and the freezercompartment door 21 are in contact may be removed by the heat from thehot line 52. The refrigerant drops on where the body 2 and therefrigerator compartment door 22 are in contact may be removed by theheat from the hot line 52. In the refrigerator, a portion of thecondenser exit channel 45 may be the hot line 52.

The expansion device 46 can expand the refrigerant condensed by thecondenser 44. The expansion device 46 may include a capillary tube or anelectronic expansion valve such as an electric expansion valve (EEV) ora linear expansion valve (LEV). The expansion device 46 may include aplurality of capillary tubes, for example, two capillary tubes of afirst capillary tube 47 and a second capillary tube 48. The firstcapillary tube 47 and the second capillary tube 48 may be different indiameter. The first capillary tube 47 and the second capillary tube 48may be different in length.

The refrigerator may further include a refrigerant control valve 54 thatcan control the refrigerant flowing toward the expansion device 46 inthe refrigerant flow direction. The refrigerant control valve 54 may bedisposed between the condenser 44 and the expansion device 46 in therefrigerant flow direction. The refrigerant control valve 54 may bedisposed between the hot line 52 and the expansion device 46 in therefrigerant flow direction, when the refrigerator further includes thehot line 52. The refrigerant control valve 54 may be connected to thecondenser exit channel 45. The refrigerant control valve 54 can pass andstop the refrigerant that has passed through the condenser 44. Therefrigerant control valve 54 can guide the refrigerant, which has passedthrough the condenser 44, to the expansion device 46, when it is open(open mode). The refrigerant control valve 54 can stop the refrigerant,which has passed through the condenser 44, from flowing to the expansiondevice 46, when it is closed (close mode). The refrigerant control valve54 may be an electronic valve. The refrigerant control valve 54 may beconnected with the first capillary tube 47 through a first capillarytube connection channel 55. The refrigerant control valve 54 may beconnected with the second capillary tube 48 through a second capillarytube connection channel 56. The refrigerant guided to the refrigerantcontrol valve 54 may be guided to the first capillary tube 47 throughthe first capillary tube connection channel 55 and expanded through thefirst capillary tube 47 or may be guided to the second capillary tube 48through the second capillary tube channel 56 and expanded through thesecond capillary tube 48. The first capillary tube 47 and the secondcapillary tube 48 may be connected with the evaporator 49 by aconverging channel. The converging channel may include a first capillarytube exit channel 57 connected to the first capillary tube 47. Theconverging channel may include a second capillary tube exit channel 58connected to the first capillary tube 48. The converging channel mayinclude an evaporator inlet channel 59 to which the first capillary tubeexit channel 57 and the second capillary tube exit channel 58 areconnected and which is connected to the evaporator 49. The refrigerantexpanded by the expansion device 46 may be guided to the evaporator 49through the evaporator inlet channel 59. The expansion device 46 may bedisposed in the machine room or in the cooling chamber P.

The evaporator 49 can evaporate the refrigerant expanded by theexpansion device 46 by making it exchange heat with the inside of therefrigerator. The evaporator 49 may be connected with the compressor 40through the compressor intake channel 41. The evaporator 49 may bedisposed in the cooling chamber P. The evaporator 49 may be disposedwith the blower fan 6 in the cooling chamber P. The evaporator 49 cancool the air sucked into the cooling chamber P from the freezercompartment F. The evaporator 49 can cool the air sucked into thecooling chamber P from the refrigerator compartment R. The evaporator 49can cool both of the air sucked into the cooling chamber P from thefreezer compartment F and the air sucked into the cooling chamber P fromthe refrigerator compartment R. The evaporator 49 may be smaller innumber than storing chambers F and R to be cooled and one evaporator maycool both of the freezer compartment F and the refrigerator compartmentR.

The blower fan 6 can send the air cooled by the evaporator 49 to thefreezer compartment F. The blower fan 6 can send the air cooled by theevaporator 49 to the freezer compartment F and the refrigeratorcompartment R. The blower fan 6 can enable air to exchange heat with therefrigerant passing through the evaporator 49 by sending the air to theevaporator 49 and may function as an evaporator fan that evaporates therefrigerant or a freezer compartment fan that cools the freezercompartment. The blower fan 6 may be disposed with the evaporator 49 inthe cooling chamber P. The blower fan 6 may include a motor that is adriving source and a fan rotated by the motor. The blower fan 6 may be acentrifugal fan, or a sirocco fan or a turbo fan. The blower fan 6 maybe an axial fan too. The motor of the blower fan 6 may be a shift motor.The blower fan 6 is variable in rotational speed, such that it canoperate to send a large amount of air, when rotating at a firstrotational speed and it can operate to send a small amount of air, whenrotating a second rotational speed lower than the first rotationalspeed. The blower fan 6 may rotate at the first rotational speed in aconcurrent operation mode of the freezer compartment F and therefrigerator compartment R. The blower fan 6 may rotate at the secondrotational speed lower than the first rotational speed in a singleoperation mode of the freezer compartment F. The rotational speed of theblower fan 6 may change with a change in voltage. The amount of air sentby the blower fan 6 may be changed by the applied voltage. The higherthe applied voltage, the more the amount of air is sent by the blowerfan 6, and the lower the applied voltage, the less the amount of air issent. High voltage (first voltage) is applied in simultaneous cooling ofthe freezer compartment F and the refrigerator compartment R, so theblower fan 6 sends a large amount of air. Low voltage (second voltage,second voltage<first voltage) is applied in cooling of only the freezercompartment F, so the blower fan 6 sends a small amount of air.

The refrigerator compartment damper 8 regulates the air sent to therefrigerator compartment R from the evaporator 49. The refrigeratorcompartment damper 8 may be disposed on the barrier 24 or in therefrigerator compartment R. When the refrigerator compartment damper 8is disposed on the barrier 24, it may be positioned in cold airdischarging-to-refrigerator compartment 35 and can pass or stop the coldair passing through the cold air discharging-to-refrigerator compartment35. When the refrigerator compartment damper 8 is disposed in therefrigerator compartment R, it may be positioned at the upper portion inthe refrigerator compartment R and can communicate with the cold airdischarging-to-refrigerator compartment 35. The refrigerator compartmentdamper 8 may pass or stop the cold air passing through the cold airdischarging-to-refrigerator compartment 35 from the cooling chamber P.Cold air can flow into the refrigerator compartment R when therefrigerator compartment damper 8 opens, and it cannot flow into therefrigerator compartment R when the refrigerator compartment damper 8closes.

FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of the refrigerator according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 6 is a viewillustrating the operation of the compressor, the blower fan, therefrigerator compartment damper, and the condenser fan, based on thetemperatures of the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartmentof the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention.

The refrigerator may include a control unit 90 controlling the blowerfan 6, the refrigerator compartment damper 8, and the compressor 40. Thecontrol unit 90 may control the blower fan 6, the refrigeratorcompartment damper 8, and the compressor 40 on the basis of the freezercompartment temperature TF and the refrigerator compartment temperatureTR. The control unit 90 may control the blower fan 6, the refrigeratorcompartment damper 8, and the compressor 40 on the basis of input from auser, the freezer compartment temperature TF, and/or the refrigeratorcompartment temperature TR. The control unit 90 may control thecondenser fan 50 with one of the compressor 40 and the blower fan 6.When the refrigerator further includes the refrigerant control valve 54,the control unit 90 may control the refrigerant control valve 54.

The refrigerator may further include an input unit 92 that receivesinstructions inputted by a user. The refrigerator may include a freezercompartment temperature sensor 94 that senses the temperature of thefreezer compartment F. The refrigerator may include a refrigeratorcompartment temperature sensor 96 that senses the temperature of therefrigerator compartment R.

The input unit 92 may receive power, a desired freezer compartmenttemperature, and/or a desired refrigerator compartment temperature andmay output signals corresponding to inputted instructions to the controlunit 90.

The freezer compartment temperature sensor 94 may be disposed in thefreezer compartment F, and it can sense the freezer compartmenttemperature and output a signal corresponding to the sensed freezercompartment temperature to the control unit 90.

The refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 96 may be disposed inthe refrigerator compartment R, and it can sense the refrigeratorcompartment temperature and output a signal corresponding to the sensedrefrigerator compartment temperature to the control unit 90.

The refrigerator can supply the air cooled by the evaporator 49(hereafter, referred to as “cold air”) to at least one of the freezercompartment F and the refrigerator compartment R and may have aconcurrent operation mode in which both of the freezer compartment F andthe refrigerator compartment R are supplied with cold air and a freezercompartment single operation mode in which cold air is supplied only tothe freezer compartment F and the cold air is stopped from flowing tothe refrigerator compartment R.

The refrigerator may operate in the concurrent operation mode first andchange to the freezer compartment single operation mode from theconcurrent operation mode. The refrigerator may operate in the freezercompartment single operation mode first and change to a standby modefrom the freezer compartment single operation mode. The refrigerator maychange to the concurrent operation mode or the freezer compartmentsingle operation mode from the standby mode.

The freezer compartment temperature sensor 94 can sense the temperatureof the freezer compartment F and output a signal corresponding to thesensed temperature to the control unit 90, and then the control unit 90can determine whether the freezer compartment temperature TF issatisfactory or not, in response to the signal from the freezercompartment temperature sensor 94.

The control unit 90 can determine whether the freezer compartmenttemperature TF is satisfactory or not on the basis of a desired freezercompartment temperature. When a user inputs a desired freezercompartment temperature to the input unit 92, the desired freezercompartment temperature may be the reference for determining whether thefreezer compartment temperature TF is satisfactory or not, and when auser does not input a desired freezer compartment temperature to theinput unit 92, the desired freezer compartment temperature that isinitially set may be the reference for determining whether the freezercompartment temperature TF is satisfactory or not.

The control unit 90 may determine that the freezer compartmenttemperature TF is satisfactory, when the temperature sensed by thefreezer compartment temperature sensor 94 is lower than the desiredfreezer compartment temperature, and it may determine that the freezercompartment temperature TF is not satisfactory, when the temperaturesensed by the freezer compartment temperature sensor 94 is higher thanthe desired freezer compartment temperature.

The control unit 90 can determine whether the freezer compartmenttemperature TF is satisfactory or not on the basis of a upper limit anda lower limit of the desired freezer compartment temperature. The upperlimit and the lower limit of the desired freezer compartment temperatureis a deviation of the desired freezer compartment temperature, and forexample, when the desired freezer compartment temperature is −17° C.,the upper limit of the desired freezer compartment temperature may behigher by a predetermined level than the desired freezer compartmenttemperature, for example, −16.5° C. or −16° C., and the lower limit ofthe desired freezer compartment temperature may be lower by apredetermined level than the desired freezer compartment temperature,for example, −17.5° C. or −18° C. The control unit 90 may determine thatthe freezer compartment temperature TF is satisfactory, when thetemperature sensed by the freezer compartment temperature sensor 94 islower than the lower limit of the desired freezer compartmenttemperature, and it may determine that the freezer compartmenttemperature TF is not satisfactory, when the temperature sensed by thefreezer compartment temperature sensor 94 is higher than the upper limitof the desired freezer compartment temperature.

The refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 96 can sense thetemperature of the refrigerator compartment R and output a signalcorresponding to the sensed temperature to the control unit 90, and thenthe control unit 90 can determine whether the refrigerator compartmenttemperature TR is satisfactory or not, in response to the signal fromthe refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 96.

The control unit 90 can determine whether the refrigerator compartmenttemperature TR is satisfactory or not on the basis of a desiredrefrigerator compartment temperature. When a user inputs a desiredrefrigerator compartment temperature to the input unit 92, the desiredrefrigerator compartment temperature may be the reference fordetermining whether the refrigerator compartment temperature TR issatisfactory or not, and when a user does not input a desiredrefrigerator compartment temperature to the input unit 92, arefrigerator compartment temperature that is initially set may be thereference for determining whether the refrigerator compartmenttemperature TR is satisfactory or not.

The control unit 90 may determine that the refrigerator compartmenttemperature TR is satisfactory, when the temperature sensed by therefrigerator compartment temperature sensor 96 is lower than the desiredrefrigerator compartment temperature, and it may determine that therefrigerator compartment temperature TR is not satisfactory, when thetemperature sensed by the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 96is higher than the desired refrigerator compartment temperature.

The control unit 90 can determine whether the refrigerator compartmenttemperature TR is satisfactory or not on the basis of a upper limit anda lower limit of the desired refrigerator compartment temperature. Theupper limit and the lower limit of the desired refrigerator compartmenttemperature is a deviation of the desired refrigerator compartmenttemperature, and for example, when the desired refrigerator compartmenttemperature is 4° C., the upper limit of the desired refrigeratorcompartment temperature may be higher by a predetermined level than thedesired refrigerator compartment temperature, for example, 4.5° C. or 5°C., and the lower limit of the desired refrigerator compartmenttemperature may be lower by a predetermined level than the desiredrefrigerator compartment temperature, for example, 3.5° C. or 3° C. Thecontrol unit 90 may determine that the refrigerator compartmenttemperature TR is satisfactory, when the temperature sensed by therefrigerator compartment temperature sensor 96 is lower than the lowerlimit of the desired refrigerator compartment temperature, and it maydetermine that the refrigerator compartment temperature TR is notsatisfactory, when the temperature sensed by the refrigeratorcompartment temperature sensor 96 is higher than the upper limit of thedesired refrigerator compartment temperature.

In the refrigerator, the refrigerator compartment temperature TR may notbe satisfactory without the freezer compartment temperature TF beingsatisfactory (simultaneously unsatisfactory condition), the refrigeratorcompartment temperature TR may be satisfactory without the freezercompartment temperature TF being satisfactory (freezercompartment-unsatisfactory condition), the refrigerator compartmenttemperature TR may not be satisfactory with the freezer compartmenttemperature TF being satisfactory (refrigeratorcompartment-unsatisfactory condition), and the refrigerator compartmenttemperature TR may be satisfactory with the freezer compartmenttemperature TF being satisfactory (simultaneously satisfactorycondition).

The refrigerator may operate in the concurrent operation mode A, whenthe freezer compartment temperature TF is not satisfactory and therefrigerator compartment temperature TR is not satisfactory, in whichthe compressor 40 is operated, the refrigerator compartment damper 8 isopened, and the first voltage is applied to the blower fan 6. In theconcurrent operation mode, voltage may be applied to the condenser fan50 so that it may be operated.

When the compressor 40 operates, the compressor 40 can suck, compress,and discharge a refrigerant, the refrigerant compressed by thecompressor 40 can be condensed by the condenser 44, the refrigerantcondensed by the condenser 44 can be expanded by the expansion device46, and the refrigerant expanded by the expansion device 46 can beevaporated by the evaporator 49. The blower fan 6 can rotate at thefirst number of revolutions and send the air in the freezer compartmentF and the air in the refrigerator compartment R to the evaporator 49,when the first voltage is applied. The air flowing in the evaporator 49can be cooled by exchanging heat with the evaporator 49. The cold aircan be distributed to the freezer compartment F and the refrigeratorcompartment R and the freezer compartment F and the refrigeratorcompartment R can be simultaneously cooled. The refrigerator compartmenttemperature TR may decrease below the desired refrigerator compartmenttemperature of the lower limit of the below the desired refrigeratorcompartment temperature, in which the control unit 90 can determine thatthe refrigerator compartment temperature TR is satisfactory.

When the freezer compartment temperature is not satisfactory and therefrigerator compartment temperature is satisfactory in the concurrentoperation mode A, the refrigerator can stop the concurrent operationmode A and operate in the freezer compartment single operation mode B.

The freezer compartment single operation mode B may be performed,following the concurrent operation mode A. In the freezer compartmentsingle operation mode B, the compressor 40 may operate, the refrigeratorcompartment damper 8 may be closed, and the second voltage lower thanthe first voltage may be applied to the blower fan 6. The blower fan 6may operate at the second number of revolutions smaller than the firstnumber of revolutions, when the second voltage is applied.

The compressor 40 that is operating in the concurrent operation mode Acan keep operating in the freezer compartment single operation mode Band the refrigerant can keep circulate through the compressor 40,condenser 44, expansion device 46, and evaporator 49. The refrigeratorcompartment damper 8 stops the air cooled by the evaporator 49 fromflowing any more to the refrigerator compartment R, by closing. Theamount of air sent by the blower fan 6 becomes smaller than that whenthe freezer compartment temperature TF is not satisfactory and therefrigerator compartment temperature TR is not satisfactory, and thesecond voltage lower than the first voltage is applied to the blower fan6, such that the power consumption of the refrigerator can be reduced.It is preferable that the second voltage is 30˜70% of the first voltageand the minimum of the second voltage is set to a level by which coldair can be circulated through the freezer compartment F and therefrigerator compartment R. In the freezer compartment single operationmode B, cold air is not supplied to the refrigerator compartment B, butis kept supplied to the freezer compartment, such that the freezercompartment temperature TF can keep decreasing or can be maintained.

In the refrigerator, when the freezer compartment temperature TF issatisfied in the freezer compartment single operation mode B, thecompressor 40 may be stopped and the voltage supplied to the blower fan6 may be stopped. In the refrigerator, when the compressor 40 is turnedoff, the voltage applied to the condenser fan 50 may be stopped and thecondenser fan 50 may be stopped. When the freezer compartmenttemperature TF is satisfied in the freezer compartment single operationmode B, the refrigerator can enter the standby mode C in which cold airis not forcibly sent any more to the freezer compartment F. When thecompressor 40 is turned off, the refrigerant does not circulate any morethrough the compressor 40, condenser 44, expansion device 46, andevaporator 49 and the cold air is not forcibly sent any more to thefreezer compartment F.

In the refrigerator, the freezer compartment temperature TF may becomeunsatisfactory and the refrigerator compartment temperature TR maybecome unsatisfactory by a load in the standby mode C, in which theconcurrent operation mode A may be started again. The refrigerator mayrepeat the modes in the order of the concurrent operation mode A, thefreezer compartment single operation mode B, and the standby mode C.

In the refrigerator, when the freezer compartment temperature TF is notsatisfactory and the refrigerator compartment temperature TR is notsatisfactory in the standby mode C, the concurrent operation mode A andthe freezer compartment single operation mode B may be sequentiallyperformed, and when the freezer compartment temperature TF is notsatisfactory and the refrigerator compartment temperature TR issatisfactory in the standby mode C, only the freezer compartment singleoperation mode B may be performed.

In the refrigerator, when the standby mode C changes to the freezercompartment single operation mode B, the refrigerator compartment damper8 can be kept closed, the compressor 40 is operated, and the secondvoltage is applied and the blower fan 6 can be operated. Further, whenthe freezer compartment temperature TF becomes satisfactory with therefrigerator compartment damper 8 closed, the compressor 40 can bestopped and the voltage applied to the blower fan 6 can be stopped.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a refrigeratoraccording to the first embodiment of the present invention.

In the method of operating a refrigerator according to the embodiment,when the freezer compartment temperature TF is not satisfactory and therefrigerator compartment temperature TR is not satisfactory, a step(that is, a concurrent cooling step) of starting the compressor 4, ofopening the refrigerator compartment damper 8 regulating the supply ofair cooled by the evaporator 49 to the refrigerator compartment, and ofapplying the first voltage to the blower fan 6 sending the air cooled bythe evaporator 49 to the freezer compartment F and the refrigeratorcompartment R can be performed (S1)(S2)(S3).

When the compressor 40 is operated, the evaporator 49 can cool the airwhile the refrigerant circulates through the compressor 40, condenser44, expansion device 46, and evaporator 49.

When the first voltage is applied to the blower fan 8, the blower fan 8can send the air in the freezer compartment F and the air in therefrigerator compartment R to the evaporator 49 and the air that hasexchanged heat with the evaporator 49 can be forcibly sent to thefreezer compartment F and the refrigerator compartment R. Some of theair cooled by the evaporator 49 can flow to the freezer compartment Fand cool the freezer compartment F and the other of the air can flow tothe refrigerator compartment R and cool the refrigerator compartment R.

In the freezer compartment F and the refrigerator compartment R of therefrigerator, the temperature of the refrigerator compartment R mayreach the desired temperature first, and the refrigerator compartment TRmay be satisfactory even though the freezer compartment temperature TFis not satisfactory yet in the concurrent operation mode of the freezercompartment F and the refrigerator compartment R.

When the freezer compartment temperature TF is not satisfactory and therefrigerator compartment TR is satisfactory in the step of cooling bothof the freezer compartment F and the refrigerator compartment R, asdescribed above, a step (that is, a freezer compartment single coolingstep) of keeping the compressor 40 operating, of closing therefrigerator compartment damper 8, and of applying the second voltagelower than the first voltage to the blower fan 6 is performed (S4)(S5).

When the compressor 40 is operated, the refrigerant can keep circulatingthrough the compressor 40, condenser 44, expansion device 46, andevaporator 49, and the refrigerator compartment damper 8 stops the aircooled by the evaporator 49 from flowing to the refrigerator compartmentR by closing. As the second voltage is applied, the amount of air sentby the blower fan 6 reduces less than that when the first voltage isapplied, the air in the freezer compartment F can circulate through theevaporator 49 and the freezer compartment F, and the temperature of thefreezer compartment F keeps dropping.

When the freezer compartment temperature TF is satisfactory in the stepof cooling only the freezer compartment F, as described above, a step ofstopping the compressor 40 and stopping the voltage applied to theblower fan 6 is performed (S6)(S7). That is, when the freezercompartment temperature TF is satisfactory while the second voltage isapplied, the second voltage is not supplied any more to the blower fan 6and the blower fan 6 stops.

In the method of operating a refrigerator according to the embodiment,after the standby step (S6)(S7), the concurrent cooling step(S1)(S2)(S3), the freezer compartment single cooling step (S4)(S5), andthe standby step (S6)(S7) can be sequentially repeated.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating the operation of a compressor, a blowerfan, a refrigerator compartment damper, and a condenser fan, based onthe temperatures of the freezer compartment and the refrigeratorcompartment of a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of thepresent invention.

When the freezer compartment temperature TF is satisfactory in thefreezer compartment single operation mode, the refrigerator can operatein a blower fan-additional operation mode C′ in which the compressor 40is stopped and the blower fan 6 stops after kept operating for apredetermined time T. The blower fan 6 may stop after further operatingfor the predetermined time T after the compressor 40 is stopped, withoutstopping with the compressor 40. The blower fan 6 can stop after furtheroperating for a predetermined time T, even after the temperature of thefreezer compartment F becomes satisfactory. The larger the size of theevaporator 49, the longer the predetermined time T may be set, and thesmaller the size of the evaporator 49, the shorter the predeterminedtime T may be set. The predetermined time T may be set in proportion tothe size of the evaporator 49. For example, when the predetermined timeT is set to 2 minutes, the blower fan 6 can keep operating for 2 minutesafter the compressor 40 stops, and it can stop when 2 minutes passesafter the compressor 40 is turned off. The larger the capacity of therefrigerator, the size of the evaporator 49 may be and the predeterminedtime T may be set in proportion to the capacity of the refrigerator. Thepredetermined time T may be variously set in proportion to the capacityof the refrigerator, for example, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes, 5minutes, and 10 minutes.

The refrigerator may enter the standby mode C in which cold air is notforcibly supplied any more to the freezer compartment F after the blowerfan-additional operation mode C′.

In the refrigerator, the concurrent operation mode A and the freezercompartment single operation mode B described in the first embodiment ofthe present invention may be sequentially performed, the blowerfan-additional operation mode C′ may be performed after the freezercompartment single operation mode B, and the standby mode C may beperformed after the blower fan-additional operation mode C′.

When the freezer compartment temperature TF is not satisfactory and therefrigerator compartment temperature TR is not satisfactory, theconcurrent operation mode A can be started, in which the compressor 40is operated, the refrigerator compartment damper 8 is opened, and thefirst voltage is applied to the blower fan 6. In the concurrentoperation mode A, voltage may be applied to the condenser fan 50 and itmay be operated. In the concurrent operation mode A, cold air issupplied to the freezer compartment T and the refrigerator compartmentR, and the freezer compartment temperature TF and the refrigeratorcompartment temperature TR may drop.

When the freezer compartment temperature TF becomes not satisfactory andthe refrigerator compartment temperature TR becomes satisfactory in theconcurrent operation mode A, the concurrent operation mode A can befinished and the freezer compartment single operation mode B can bestarted. In the freezer compartment single operation mode B, thecompressor 40 keep operating, the refrigerator compartment damper 8 isclosed, and the second voltage is applied to the blower fan 6. In thefreezer compartment single operation mode B, the voltage is kept appliedto the condenser fan 50, such that the condenser fan 50 can operate withthe compressor. In the freezer compartment single operation mode B, coldair is not supplied any more to the refrigerator compartment R, butsupplied to the freezer compartment T, such that the freezer compartmenttemperature TF may drop.

When the freezer compartment temperature TF becomes satisfactory in thefreezer compartment single operation mode B, the blower fan-additionaloperation mode C′ may be started without immediately entering to thestandby mode C. In blower fan-additional operation mode C′, thecompressor 40 stops, the refrigerator compartment damper 8 is closed,and the second voltage can be applied to the blower fan 6. In the blowerfan-additional operation mode C′, voltage may not be applied to thecondenser fan 50 and the condenser fan 50 may be stopped with thecompressor 40. In the blower fan-additional operation mode C′, theblower fan 6 can circulate the air through the evaporator 49 and thefreezer compartment F by keeping operating and the evaporator 49 cankeep cooling the freezer compartment F even after the compressor 40stops. With the blower fan-additional operation mode C′ started, therefrigerant in the evaporator 49 can keep exchanging heat with air forthe predetermined time T even after the compressor 40 stops and thecooling capacity remaining in the evaporator F can be transmitted asmuch as possible for the predetermined time T to the freezer compartmentF.

When the predetermined time T passes after the blower fan-additionaloperation mode C′ is started, the refrigerator may enter the standbymode C, in which the second voltage is not applied to the blower fan 6and the blower fan 6 stops. In the refrigerator, the blower fan 6further operates for the predetermined time after the freezercompartment single operation mode B, such that restart of the concurrentoperation mode A or the freezer compartment single operation mode Bwhich can be performed after the standby mode C can be delayed as lateas possible.

In the refrigerator, the freezer compartment temperature TF may becomeunsatisfactory and the refrigerator compartment temperature TR maybecome unsatisfactory by a load in the standby mode C, in which theconcurrent operation mode A may be started again. The refrigerator mayrepeat the modes in the order of the concurrent operation mode A, thefreezer compartment single operation mode B, the blower fan-additionaloperation mode C′, and the standby mode C.

In the refrigerator, other configuration and operation, except that theblower fan-additional operation mode C′ is performed after the freezercompartment single operation mode B and the blower fan-additionaloperation mode C′ changes to the standby mode C after performing for apredetermined time, may be the same as or similar to those of the firstembodiment of the present invention, the same reference numerals areused, and the detailed description is not provided.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a refrigeratoraccording to the second embodiment of the present invention.

In the method of operating a refrigerator, a step (that is, a blowerfan-additional operation step) of stopping the compressor 40 and keepingthe blower fan 6 operating for the predetermined time T when the freezercompartment temperature TF becomes satisfactory in the step (S4)(S5)that cools only the freezer compartment F can be performed (S6)(S7′), inwhich the second voltage can be applied to the blower fan 6 for thepredetermined time T after the compressor 40 stops. In the refrigerator,when the predetermined time T passes, a step (that is, a standby step)of not supplying any more the second voltage to the blower fan 6 andstopping the blower fan 6 can be performed (S8)(S9).

In the method of operating a refrigerator according to the embodiment,after the standby step (S8)(S9), the concurrent cooling step(S1)(S2)(S3), the freezer compartment single cooling step (S4)(S5), theblower fan-additional operation step (S6)(S7′), and the standby step(S8)(S9) can be sequentially repeated.

In the method of operating a refrigerator according to the embodiment,other configuration and operation, except that the blower fan-additionaloperation step (S6)(S7′) and the standby step (S8)(S9) are performedafter the freezer compartment single cooling step (S4)(S5), are the sameas or similar to the method of operating a refrigerator according to thefirst embodiment, such that the same reference numerals are used and thedetailed description is not provided.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating the operation of a compressor, a blowerfan, a refrigerator compartment damper, and a condenser fan, based onthe temperatures of the freezer compartment and the refrigeratorcompartment of a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of thepresent invention.

In the refrigerator, voltage lower than that in the freezer compartmentsingle operation mode B may be applied to the blower fan 6 in a blowerfan-additional operation mode C″. In the refrigerator, otherconfiguration and operation, except that voltage lower than that in thefreezer compartment single operation mode B is applied to the blower fan6 in the blower fan-additional operation mode C″, are the same as orsimilar to those of the second embodiment of the present invention, suchthat the detailed description is not provided.

When the freezer compartment temperature TF is not satisfactory and therefrigerator compartment temperature TR is satisfactory, the secondvoltage may be applied to the blower fan 6, and when the freezercompartment temperature TF becomes satisfactory while the second voltageis applied to the blower fan 6, a third voltage lower than the secondvoltage may be applied to the blower fan 6. The amount of air sent bythe blower fan 6 when the third voltage is applied is smaller than thatwhen the second voltage is applied.

That is, in the blower fan-additional operation mode C″, the thirdvoltage lower than the second voltage can be applied to the blower fan 6for the predetermined time T. The blower fan 6 may operate at the thirdnumber of revolutions smaller than the second number of revolutions forthe predetermined time T.

In the refrigerator, as in the second embodiment of the presentinvention, the modes may be repeated in the order or the concurrentoperation mode A, the freezer compartment single operation mode B, theblower fan-additional operation mode C″, and the standby mode C, andonly the amount of air sent in the blower fan-additional operation modeC″ may be smaller than that in the freezer compartment single operationmode B.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a refrigeratoraccording to the third embodiment of the present invention.

In the method of operating a refrigerator, a step (that is, a blowerfan-additional operation step) of stopping the compressor 40 and keepingthe blower fan 6 operating for the predetermined time T when the freezercompartment temperature TF becomes satisfactory in the step (S4)(S5)that cools only the freezer compartment F can be performed (S6)(S7″), inwhich the third voltage lower than the second voltage can be applied tothe blower fan 6 for the predetermined time T. The third voltage may beapplied to the blower fan 6 for the predetermined time T, after thecompressor 40 stops. In the refrigerator, when the predetermined time Tpasses, a step (that is, a standby step) of not supplying the thirdvoltage to the blower fan 6 and stopping the blower fan 6 can beperformed (S8)(S9).

In the method of operating a refrigerator according to the embodiment,after the standby step (S8)(S9), the concurrent cooling step(S1)(S2)(S3), the freezer compartment single cooling step (S4)(S5), theblower fan-additional operation step (S6)(S7″), and the standby step(S8)(S9) can be sequentially repeated.

Other configuration and operation in the method of operating arefrigerator according to the embodiment are the same as or similar tothose of the method of operating a refrigerator according to the secondembodiment of the present invention, such that the same referencenumerals are used and the detailed description is not provided.

FIG. 12 is a control block diagram of a refrigerator according to afourth embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 13 is a view showingoperation modes according to the temperature of the refrigeratorcompartment of the refrigerator according to the fourth embodiment ofthe present invention.

The refrigerator may include the body 2, the refrigeration cycle system4, the blower fan 6, and the condenser fan 50, and may further include ahumidity sensor 110 that senses humidity.

The condenser fan 50 has a motor, which may be a shift motor and canchange the rotational speed of the fan. The condenser fan may beoperated at the first number of revolutions or the second number ofrevolutions. The condenser fan 50 can operate to send a large amount ofair, when operating at the first rotational speed and it can operate tosend a small amount of air, when operating at the second rotationalspeed lower than the first rotational speed. The condenser fan 50 canoperate at the first rotational speed in a normal cooling mode and itcan operate at the second rotational speed lower than the firstrotational speed in an anti-dew-forming mode. The rotational speed ofthe condenser fan 50 may change with a change in voltage. The amount ofair sent by the condenser fan 50 may be changed by the applied voltage,the higher the voltage, the more the amount of air may be, and the lowerthe voltage, the less the amount of air may be.

The humidity sensor 110, which senses the humidity around the portionswhere dew-forming frequently occurs in the body, can sense the humidityoutside the freezer compartment F. The humidity sensor 110 may bemounted on the freezer compartment door 21 or the refrigeratorcompartment door 22.

In the refrigerator, the control unit 90 can control the blower fan 6,the condenser fan 50, and the compressor 40 on the basis of the freezercompartment temperature TF and humidity. The control unit 90 can controlthe blower fan 6, the condenser fan 50, and the compressor 40 on thebasis of input by a user, the freezer compartment temperature TF, and/orhumidity.

In the refrigerator, the compressor 40 and the condenser fan 50 may bevariably controlled on the basis of the freezer compartment temperatureTF and/or humidity. In the refrigerator, when the freezer compartmenttemperature TF is not satisfactory and humidity is high, the compressor40 and the condenser fan 50 can be controlled such that ahigh-temperature refrigerant flows through the hot line 52. In therefrigerator, when the freezer compartment temperature TF is notsatisfactory and humidity is low, the compressor 40 and the condenserfan 50 can be controlled such that a refrigerant at relatively lowtemperature flows through the hot line 52.

The freezer compartment temperature sensor 92 can sense the temperatureof the freezer compartment and output it to the control unit 90. Thehumidity sensor 110 can sense humidity and output it to the control unit90. The control unit 90 can control all of the compressor 40, blower fan6, and condenser fan 50 on the basis of the value (freezer compartmenttemperature) outputted from the freezer compartment temperature sensor92 and the value (humidity) outputted from the humidity sensor 110. Thecontrol unit 90 can control the refrigerant control valve 54 and thecompressor 40 together. The control unit 90 can control the refrigerantcontrol valve 54 and the compressor 40 with a time difference.

(F) of FIG. 13 shows the operation of the blower fan 6, the condenserfan 50, the compressor 40, and the refrigerant control valve 54, whenthe freezer compartment temperature TF is not satisfactory and thehumidity sensed by the humidity sensor 110 is less than a predeterminedlevel. (G) of FIG. 13 shows the operation of the blower fan 6, thecondenser fan 50, the compressor 40, and the refrigerant control valve54, when the freezer compartment temperature TF is not satisfactory andthe humidity sensed by the humidity sensor 110 is a predetermined levelor more.

When the freezer compartment temperature TF is not satisfactory and thehumidity sensed by the humidity sensor 110 is less than a predeterminedlevel, the refrigerator can operate in the normal cooling operation.When the freezer compartment temperature TF is not satisfactory and thehumidity sensed by the humidity sensor 110 is less than a predeterminedlevel, as shown in (F) of FIG. 13, the refrigerator can operate in thenormal cooling operation in which first power is inputted to thecompressor 40 and the condenser fan 50 is operated at the firstrotational speed.

When the freezer compartment temperature TF is not satisfactory and thehumidity sensed by the humidity sensor 110 is a predetermined level ormore, the refrigerator can operate in the anti-dew-forming operation,not in the normal cooling operation. When the freezer compartmenttemperature TF is not satisfactory and the humidity sensed by thehumidity sensor 110 is a predetermined level or more, as shown in (G) ofFIG. 13, the refrigerator can operate in the anti-dew-forming operationin which second power higher than the first power is inputted to thecompressor 40 and the condenser fan 50 is operated at the secondrotational speed lower than the first rotational speed.

Other configuration and operation, except that the power inputted to thecompressor 40 and the number of revolutions of the condenser fan 50 aredifferent when the refrigerator operates in the normal cooling operationand in the anti-dew-forming operation, may be the same as or similar toone of those of the first to third embodiments, such that the samereference numerals are used and the detailed description is notprovided.

A normal cooling is described hereafter in detail with reference to (F)of FIG. 13.

In the normal cooling operation of the refrigerator, the compressor 40can be started, the blower fan 6 can be started, and the condenser fan50 can be started. The refrigerant control valve 54 may keep closed,until a predetermined time T passes after the compressor 40 is started.The normal cooling may include a stabilizing mode A′ and a normalcooling mode B′. In the normal cooling operation, the normal coolingmode B′ may be performed, after the stabilizing mode A is performedfirst.

The refrigerator may operate in the stabilizing mode A′ with therefrigerant control valve 54 closed and the compressor 40, blower fan 6,and condenser fan 50 operated. In the stabilizing mode A′, therefrigerant in the evaporator 49 can be sucked into the compressor 40and compressed therein and the refrigerant compressed by the compressor40 can be collected in the hot line 52 and the condenser 44.

After the stabilizing mode A′ is performed for a predetermined time, therefrigerant control valve 54 can be opened and the refrigerator canoperate in the normal cooling mode B′ with the compressor 40, blower fan6, and condenser fan 50 operated and the refrigerant control valve 54off. In the normal cooling mode B′, the refrigerant can be sucked intothe compressor 40 after sequentially passing through the compressor 40,condenser 44, hot line 52, refrigerant control valve 54, expansiondevice 46, and evaporator 49. The condenser fan 50 can be operated atthe first rotational speed in the normal cooling ode B′ and can help therefrigerant passing through the condenser 44 condense by exchanging heatwith air by sending the air to the condenser 44. The blower fan 6 canhelp the refrigerant passing through the evaporator 49 condense byexchanging heat with air, by sending the air to the evaporator 49. Therefrigerant may condense while passing through the condenser 44, heatthe portions around the hot line 52 while passing through the hot line52, and evaporate though the evaporator 49. While the refrigeratoroperates in the normal cooling mode B′, the temperature of the freezercompartment F may gradually drop. The normal cooling mode B′ may beperformed for a long time when the freezer compartment load is large,and it may be performed for a short time when the freezer compartmentload is small. The refrigerant control valve 54 is kept open during thenormal cooling mode B′ and the freezer compartment temperature TF maydrop during the normal cooling mode B′.

While the refrigerator operates in the normal cooling mode B′, thefreezer compartment temperature TF may become satisfactory. While thefreezer compartment temperature TF becomes satisfactory in the normalcooling mode B′, the refrigerator may finish the normal coolingoperation. When the refrigerator finishes the normal cooling operation,the blower fan, condenser fan 50, and compressor 40 can be stopped andthe refrigerant control valve 54 can be closed. The refrigerator mayenter the standby mode C after finishing the normal cooling mode, therefrigerant does not flow any more in the standby mode C, and the aircooled by the evaporator 49 is not sent any more to the freezercompartment F.

In the standby mode C, the temperature of the freezer compartment F maygradually increase and the freezer compartment temperature TF may becomeunsatisfactory due to a change in the load in the standby mode C. Inthis case, when the humidity sensed by the humidity sensor 110 is lessthan a predetermined level, the refrigerator can repeat operating in thenormal cooling operation, as shown in (F) of FIG. 13, and when thehumidity sensed by the humidity sensor 110 is a predetermined level ormore, the refrigerator can operate in the anti-dew-forming operation, asshown in (G) of FIG. 13.

When the refrigerator operates in the normal cooling operation, as inthe first to third embodiment, the concurrent operation mode and thefreezer compartment single operation mode may be sequentially performedand only the freezer compartment single operation mode may be performed.When the concurrent operation mode and the freezer compartment singleoperation mode are sequentially performed, the refrigerator can changefrom the stabilizing mode A′ to the normal cooling mode B′ in theconcurrent operation mode A. When only the freezer compartment singleoperation mode is performed, the refrigerator can change from thestabilizing mode A′ to the normal cooling mode B′ in the freezercompartment single operation mode B.

The anti-dew-forming operation is described hereafter in detail withreference to (G) of FIG. 13.

In the anti-dew-forming operation of the refrigerator, the compressor 40can be started, the blower fan 6 can be started, and the condenser fan50 can be started. The refrigerant control valve 54 may be kept closed,until a predetermined time T passes after the compressor 40 is started.The anti-dew-forming operation of the refrigerator may include astabilizing mode A′ and a anti-dew-forming mode B″. In theanti-dew-forming operation, the anti-dew-forming mode B″ may beperformed, after the stabilizing mode A is performed first.

The refrigerator may operate in the stabilizing mode A′ with therefrigerant control valve 54 closed and the compressor 40, blower fan 6,and condenser fan 50 operated. In the stabilizing mode A′, therefrigerant in the evaporator 49 can be sucked into the compressor 40and compressed therein and the refrigerant compressed by the compressor40 can be collected in the hot line 52 and the condenser 44.

In the refrigerator, after the stabilizing mode A′ is performed for apredetermined time, the refrigerant control valve 54 can be opened, andthe compressor 40, the blower fan 6, and the condenser fan 50 can beoperated in the anti-dew-forming mode B″ in which the temperature of therefrigerant flowing into the hot line 52 is higher than that in thenormal cooling mode B′ of the normal cooling operation. In theanti-dew-forming mode B″, the compressor 40 can be operated to dischargea refrigerant at higher temperature and pressure than the normal coolingmode B′. In the anti-dew-forming mode B″, second power higher than thefirst power can be inputted to the compressor 40 and a refrigerant athigher temperature and pressure than the normal cooling mode B′ can bedischarged from the compressor 40. In the anti-dew-forming mode B″, thecondenser fan 50 can be operated such that a refrigerant at highertemperature than the normal cooling mode B′ is discharged from thecondenser 44. In the anti-dew-forming mode B″, the condenser fan 50 canbe operated at the second rotational speed lower than the firstrotational speed and the amount of air flowing to the condenser 44 issmaller than that in the normal cooling mode B′, and a refrigerant athigher temperature than the normal cooling mode B′ can be dischargedfrom the condenser 44.

In the anti-dew-forming mode B″, as in the normal cooling mode B′, therefrigerant can be sucked into the compressor 40 after sequentiallypassing through the compressor 40, condenser 44, hot line 52,refrigerant control valve 54, expansion device 48, and evaporator 49. Inthe anti-dew-forming mode B″, the blower fan 6 can help the refrigerantpassing through the evaporator 49 condense by exchanging heat with air,by sending the air to the evaporator 49. The refrigerant may condensewhile passing through the condenser 44, heat the portions around the hotline 52 to higher temperature than the normal cooling mode B′ whilepassing through the hot line 52, and evaporate though the evaporator 49.

The freezer compartment F can be cooled as in the normal coolingoperation while the refrigerator operates in the anti-dew-forming modeB″, the temperature of the freezer compartment F may gradually dropduring the anti-dew-forming mode B″, and the anti-dew-forming mode B″may be performed for a long time when the freezer compartment load islarge and it may be performed for a short time when the freezercompartment load is small, as in the normal cooling mode B′. Therefrigerant control valve 54 is kept open during the anti-dew-formingmode B″ and the freezer compartment temperature TF may drop during theanti-dew-forming mode B″.

While the refrigerator operates in the anti-dew-forming mode B″, thefreezer compartment temperature TF may become satisfactory. While thefreezer compartment temperature TF becomes satisfactory in theanti-dew-forming mode B″, the refrigerator may finish theanti-dew-forming operation. When the refrigerator finishes theanti-dew-forming operation, the blower fan, condenser fan 50, andcompressor 40 can be stopped and the refrigerant control valve 54 can beclosed. The refrigerator may enter the standby mode C after finishingthe anti-dew-forming operation, as in the normal cooling mode, therefrigerant does not flow any more in the standby mode C, and the aircooled by the evaporator 49 is not sent any more to the freezercompartment F.

In the standby mode C, the temperature of the freezer compartment Fgradually increases and the freezer compartment temperature TF maybecome unsatisfactory due to a change in the load in the standby mode C.In this case, when the sensed humidity is less than a predeterminedlevel, the refrigerator operates in the normal cooling operation, andwhen the sensed humidity is a predetermined level or more, theanti-dew-forming operation can be repeated.

When the refrigerator operates in the anti-dew-forming operation, as inthe first to third embodiment, the concurrent operation mode and thefreezer compartment single operation mode may be sequentially performedand only the freezer compartment single operation mode may be performed.When the concurrent operation mode and the freezer compartment singleoperation mode are sequentially performed, the refrigerator can changefrom the stabilizing mode A′ to the anti-dew-forming mode B″ in theconcurrent operation mode A. When only the freezer compartment singleoperation mode is performed, the refrigerator can change from thestabilizing mode A′ to the anti-dew-forming mode B″ in the freezercompartment single operation mode B.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling therefrigerator according to the fourth embodiment of the presentinvention.

The method of operating a refrigerator includes a step of sensinghumidity with the humidity sensor 110 (S11). The humidity sensor 110 cansense the interior temperature and output it to the control unit 90.

The method of operating a refrigerator includes a step of operating thecondenser fan 50 sending air to the condenser 44 at the first rotationalspeed and inputs the first power to the compressor 40 compressing arefrigerant, when the freezer compartment temperature TF is notsatisfactory and the sensed humidity is less than predeterminedhumidity, and of operating the condenser fan 50 at the second rotationalspeed lower than the first rotational speed and inputting the secondpower higher than the first power to the compressor 40(S12)(S13)(S14)(S15).

When the freezer compartment temperature TF is not satisfactory and thesensed humidity is less than predetermined humidity, the refrigeratorcan operate in the normal cooling operation in which the condenser fan50 is operated at the first rotational speed and the first power isinputted to the compressor 40 (S12)(S13)(S14).

When the freezer compartment temperature TF is not satisfactory and thesensed humidity is predetermined humidity or more, the refrigerator canoperate in the normal cooling operation in which the condenser fan 50 isoperated at the second rotational speed lower than the first rotationalspeed and the second power higher than the first power is inputted tothe compressor 40 (S12)(S13)(S15).

In the method of operating a refrigerator, the normal cooling operationand the anti-dew-forming operation can be selectively performed.

In the method of operating a refrigerator, when a predetermined timepasses after the normal cooling operation or the anti-dew-formingoperation is started, the refrigerant control valve 54 can be opened(S16).

The refrigerant control valve 54 can be opened while the refrigeratoroperates in the normal cooling operation or in the anti-dew-formingoperation, and when the refrigerant control valve 54 is opened, therefrigerant can be sucked into the compressor 40 after sequentiallypassing through the compressor 40, condenser 44, hot line 52,refrigerant control valve 54, and expansion device 46.

When the refrigerant control valve 54 is opened in the normal coolingoperation, a refrigerant at lower temperature and pressure than theanti-dew-forming operation flows into the condenser 44, a larger amountof air than the anti-dew-forming operation can be sent, and arefrigerant at lower temperature and pressure than the anti-dew-formingoperation can pass through the hot line 52.

When the refrigerant control valve 54 is opened in the normal coolingoperation, a refrigerant at higher temperature and pressure than thenormal cooling operation flows into the condenser 44, a smaller amountof air than the normal cooling operation can be sent, and a refrigerantat higher temperature and pressure than the normal cooling operation canpass through the hot line 52. The refrigerant passing through the hotline 52 in the anti-dew-forming operation can minimize dew-forming whichmay occur due to high humidity, by heating the portions around the hotline 52.

The freezer compartment temperature TF may become satisfactory while therefrigerator operates in the normal cooling operation or theanti-dew-forming operation, and when the freezer compartment temperatureTF is satisfactory, the method of operating a refrigerator may furtherinclude a step of stopping the compressor 40, blower fan 6, andcondenser fan 50 and closing the refrigerant control valve 54(S17)(S18).

When the compressor 40 is stopped, the refrigerant does not circulatethrough the compressor 40, condenser 44, hot line 52, refrigerantcontrol valve 54, and expansion device 46, the air in the freezercompartment F is not sent to the evaporator 49, and the refrigerator canbe kept in the standby state before the freezer compartment temperatureTF becomes unsatisfactory. Thereafter, the method of operating arefrigerator described above can be repeated.

FIG. 15 is a view illustrating the operation of a compressor, a blowerfan, a condenser fan, and a refrigerant control valve, based on thetemperature of the freezer compartment of a refrigerator according to afifth embodiment of the present invention.

A refrigerator may include the body 2, the refrigeration cycle system 4,the blower fan 6, and the refrigeration compartment damper 8 of thefirst embodiment of the present invention. A control unit 90 can controlthe blower fan 6, the compressor 40, and the refrigerant control valve54 on the basis of the freezer compartment temperature TF. A controlunit 90 can control the blower fan 6, the compressor 40, and therefrigerant control valve 54 on the basis of input by a user and/or thefreezer compartment temperature TF. The refrigerator may further includethe condenser fan 50 of the first embodiment of the present inventionand the controller 90 can control the condenser fan 50 on the basis ofthe freezer compartment temperature TF.

In the refrigerator, when the freezer compartment temperature TF isunsatisfactory, the compressor 40 and the blower fan 6 can be startedfirst and then the refrigerant control valve 54 can be opened. Therefrigerant control valve 54 may be controlled with a time differencefrom the compressor 40 and the blower fan 6, when it is opened. Therefrigerant control valve 54 may be opened, when a first predeterminedtime T1 passes after the compressor 40 and the blower fan 6 are started.

The refrigerator may include a stabilizing mode A′ with unsatisfactoryfreezer compartment temperature TF and with the compressor 40 and theblower fan 6 operated and the refrigerant control valve 54 closed, andcan operate in the stabilizing mode A′ for the first predetermined timeT1 after the compressor 40 and the blower fan 6 are started. In thestabilizing mode A′, the condenser fan 50 can be operated with thecompressor 40. The stabilizing mode A′ may be an initial stabilizingmode. In the stabilizing mode A′, the compressor 40 can suck andcompress the refrigerant in the evaporator 49, and the refrigerantcompressed by the compressor 40 is collected in the condenser 44 becausethe refrigerant control valve 54 is closed.

In the refrigerator, after the stabilizing mode A′ is performed for thefirst predetermined time T1, the refrigerant control valve 54 is opened.When the refrigerant control valve 54 is opened, the refrigerant can besucked into the compressor 40 after sequentially passing through thecompressor 40, condenser 44, refrigerant control valve 54, expansiondevice 46, and evaporator 49, and the refrigerator can operate in thenormal cooling mode B′ for cooling the freezer compartment F. The normalcooling mode may be a freezer compartment cooling mode for circulatingthe cold air in the freezer compartment F to the evaporator 49 and thefreezer compartment F, using the blower fan 6 while the refrigerantnormally circulates through the compressor 40, condenser 44, refrigerantcontrol valve 54, expansion device 46, and evaporator 49. In the normalcooling mode B′, the condenser fan 50 may keep operating. The normalcooling mode B′ may be performed for a long time when the freezercompartment load is large, and it may be performed for a short time whenthe freezer compartment load is small. The refrigerant control valve 54is kept open during the normal cooling mode B′ and the freezercompartment temperature TF may drop during the normal cooling mode B′.

While the refrigerator operates in the normal cooling mode B′, thefreezer compartment temperature TF may become satisfactory.

In the refrigerator, when the freezer compartment temperature TF issatisfactory after the refrigerant control valve 54 is opened, therefrigerant control valve 54 is closed first and then the compressor 40and the blower fan 6 are stopped. The condenser fan 50 may be stoppedwith closing of the refrigerant control valve 54. The compressor 40 andthe blower fan 6 may be stopped with a time difference from therefrigerant control valve 54. The compressor 40 and the blower fan 6 maybe stopped, when a second predetermined time T2 passes after therefrigerant control valve 54 is closed.

The refrigerator may include a freezer compartment-additional coolingmode D in which the freezer compartment temperature TF is satisfactory,the refrigerant control valve 54 is closed, and the compressor 40 andthe blower fan 6 does not stop, but is kept operating from the normalcooling mode B′. The condenser fan 50 can be stopped during the freezercompartment-additional cooling mode D. The freezercompartment-additional cooling mode D may be a mode for additionallycooling the freezer compartment F while the freezer compartmenttemperature TF is satisfactory. In the freezer compartment-additionalcooling mode D, the compressor 40 and the blower fan 6 does not stop,but is kept operating from the normal cooling mode B′, in which therefrigerant control valve 54 may be kept closed. In the freezercompartment-additional cooling mode D, the refrigerant in the evaporator49 is sucked and compressed in the compressor 40 by additionallyoperating the compressor 40 and the refrigerant is gradually collectedin the condenser 44 as time passes. The refrigerator may operate in thefreezer compartment-additional cooling mode D for a second predeterminedtime and the refrigerant in the evaporator 49 gradually reduces for thesecond predetermined time. The reduction of the refrigerant in theevaporator 49 may help stabilization of the next cycle that is startedafter a standby mode, which is described below. In the freezercompartment-additional cooling mode D, the blower fan 6 may be operatedfor the second predetermined time so that the evaporator 49 isadditionally cooled, and the air cooled by the evaporator 49 canadditionally cool the freezer compartment F, flowing to the freezercompartment F. The larger the capacity of the refrigerator, the longerthe second predetermined time may be, and it may be set in the range of30 seconds to 180 seconds.

When the second predetermined time passes after the freezercompartment-additional cooling mode D is started, the refrigeratorenters the standby mode C in which the compressor 40 and the blower fan6 are stopped, the refrigerant does not flow any more, and the aircooled by the evaporator 49 is not sent any more to the freezercompartment F.

In the standby mode C, the temperature of the freezer compartment Fgradually increases and the freezer compartment temperature TF maybecome unsatisfactory due to a change in the load in the standby mode C,in which the stabilizing mode A may be started again. The refrigeratormay go back to the standby mode C after the stabilizing mode A, aftersequentially performing the normal cooling mode B′, and the freezercompartment-additional cooling mode D, and the stabilizing mode A, aftersequentially performing the normal cooling mode B′, and the freezercompartment-additional cooling mode D, and the standby mode C can berepeated.

In the refrigerator, other configuration and operation except thestabilizing mode A, the normal cooling mode B′, and the freezercompartment-additional cooling mode D may be the same as of similar tothose in the first embodiment of the present invention, such that thesame reference numerals are used and the detailed description is notprovided.

In the refrigerator, as in the first embodiment of the presentinvention, the concurrent operation mode A and the freezer compartmentsingle operation mode B may be sequentially performed and only thefreezer compartment single operation mode B may be performed. When theconcurrent operation mode A and the freezer compartment single operationmode B are sequentially performed, the refrigerator changes from thestabilizing mode A′ to the normal cooling mode B′ in the concurrentoperation mode A, and after the concurrent operation mode A is finished,the freezer compartment-additional cooling mode D may be performed. Whenonly the freezer compartment single operation mode B is performed, therefrigerator changes from the stabilizing mode A′ to the normal coolingmode B′ in the freezer compartment single operation mode B, and afterthe freezer compartment single operation mode B, the freezercompartment-additional cooling mode D may be performed.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a refrigeratoraccording to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

The method of operating a refrigerator according to the embodiment mayperform a step (initializing step) of starting the compressor 40 thatcompresses a refrigerant and of starting the condenser fan 50 that sendsair to the condenser 44 and the blower fan 6 that circulates the air inthe freezer compartment F through the evaporator 49 and the freezercompartment F, when the freezer compartment temperature TF is notsatisfactory (S21)(S22).

The compressor 40 can suck and compress the refrigerant in theevaporator 49, the blower fan 6 can send the air in the freezercompartment F to the evaporator 49 and send it back to the freezercompartment F, and the condenser fan 50 can send air to the condenser44. While the compressor 40, condenser fan 50, and blower fan 6 areoperated, the refrigerant control valve 54 is closed and the refrigerantcompressed by the compressor 40 is collected in the condenser 44.

The method of operating a refrigerator may perform a step (freezercompartment cooling step) of opening the refrigerant control valve 54between the condenser 44 and the evaporator 49, when a firstpredetermined time T1 passes after the compressor 40, condenser fan 50,and blower fan 6 are started (S23)(S24).

When the refrigerant control valve 54 is opened, the refrigerant in thecondenser 44 can flow to the expansion device 46 through the refrigerantcontrol valve 54 and can be sucked into the compressor 40 after passingthe compressor 40, condenser 44, refrigerant control valve 54, expansiondevice 46, and evaporator 49. The evaporator 49 can make the air sent bythe blower fan 6 exchange heat with the refrigerant and the air cooledby the evaporator 49 can be supplied to the freezer compartment and coolthe freezer compartment. As time passes, the freezer compartment F cangradually decrease in temperature and freezer compartment temperature TFmay become satisfactory.

The method of operating a refrigerator can perform a step (freezercompartment-additional cooling step) of stopping the condenser fan 50and closing the refrigerant control valve 54, when the freezercompartment temperature TF is satisfactory (S25)(S26).

In the refrigerator, the compressor 40 and the blower fan 6 may keepoperating without stopping even with the freezer compartment temperatureTF satisfactory and the refrigerant control valve 54 closed, therefrigerant in the evaporator 49 is sucked and compressed in thecompressor 40 by the operation of the compressor 40, and the refrigerantmay be collected in the condenser 44 as time passes. Further, as theblower fan 6 keeps operating without stopping, the air cooled by theevaporator 49 is kept sent to the freezer compartment F.

The method of operating a refrigerator can perform a step (standby step)of stopping the compressor 40 and the blower fan 6, when a secondpredetermined time passes after the refrigerant control valve 54 isclosed (S27)(S28).

When the compressor 40 is stopped, the refrigerant does not flow anymore and the air cooled by the evaporator 49 is not sent any more to thefreezer compartment F. The refrigerator enters the standby state.

In the refrigerator, as time passes, the temperature of the freezercompartment F gradually increases, the freezer compartment temperatureTF may become unsatisfactory due to a change in load during the standbystep, the method of operating a refrigerator may restart from theinitializing step, and the method of operating a refrigerator may repeatthe initializing step, the freezer compartment cooling step, the freezercompartment-additional cooling step, and the standby step.

FIG. 17 is a view illustrating the operation of a compressor, a blowerfan, a condenser fan, and a refrigerant control valve, based on thetemperature of the freezer compartment of a refrigerator according to asixth embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention is the same as or similar to the fifth embodimentof the present invention except that when the freezer compartmenttemperature TF is not satisfactory, the compressor 40 is started first,and then the refrigerant control valve 54 is opened and the blower fan 6is started, and when the freezer compartment temperature TF becomessatisfactory after the refrigerant control valve 54 is opened, therefrigerant control valve 54 is closed first, and then the compressor 40is stopped and the blower fan 6 is stopped, so the same referencenumerals are used and the detailed description is not provided. Therefrigerator, as in the fifth embodiment of the present invention, mayfurther include an condenser fan 50 sending air to the condenser 44. Thecondenser fan 50 may be operated with the compressor 40 and stopped withclosing of the refrigerant control valve 54.

The refrigerant control valve 54 may be controlled with a timedifference from the compressor 40, when it is opened. The refrigerantcontrol valve 54 may be opened, when a first predetermined time T1passes after the compressor 40 is started. The blower fan 6 may bestarted when the first predetermined time passes after the compressor 40is started.

The refrigerator may include a stabilizing mode A″ with unsatisfactoryfreezer compartment temperature TF and with the compressor 40 operated,the refrigerant control valve 54 closed, and the blower fan 6 stopped,and can operate in the stabilizing mode A″ for the first predeterminedtime T1 after the compressor 40 is started. In the stabilizing mode A″,the condenser fan 50 can be operated with the compressor 40. Thestabilizing mode A″ may be an initial stabilizing mode. In thestabilizing mode A″, the compressor 40 can suck and compress therefrigerant in the evaporator 49, and the refrigerant compressed by thecompressor 40 is collected in the condenser 44 because the refrigerantcontrol valve 54 is closed. In the stabilizing mode A″, the blower fan 6is kept in stop without operating. If the blower fan 6 is started whilethe compressor 40 is operated after started, it means that the blowerfan 6 is started without the temperature of the evaporator 49sufficiently decreased yet, so the heat exchange efficiency of theevaporator 49 is low and power is consumed for operating the blower fan6. In contrast, when the refrigerant control valve 54 is closed and theblower fan 6 is stopped in the stabilizing mode A″, it is possible toreduce the time for stabilizing the cycle of the refrigerant anddecrease the power consumption for operating the blower fan 6.

In the refrigerator, after the stabilizing mode A′ is performed for thefirst predetermined time T1, the refrigerant control valve 54 is openedand the blower fan 6 is started. When the refrigerant control valve 54is opened, the refrigerant can be sucked into the compressor 40 aftersequentially passing through the compressor 40, condenser 44,refrigerant control valve 54, expansion device 46, and evaporator 49,and the refrigerator can operate in the normal cooling mode B′ forcooling the freezer compartment F. The normal cooling mode B′ is thesame as the normal cooling mode B′ of the fifth embodiment of thepresent invention, so the detailed description is not provided.

The freezer compartment temperature TF may become satisfactory in thenormal cooling mode B′, and when the freezer compartment temperature TFbecomes satisfactory, the refrigerator may operate in a freezercompartment-additional cooling mode D, which is the same as that in thefifth embodiment of the present invention, and a standby mode C may beperformed after the freezer compartment-additional cooling mode D, as inthe fifth embodiment of the present invention. The freezercompartment-additional cooling mode D and the standby mode C are thesame as the freezer compartment-additional cooling mode D and thestandby mode C in the fifth embodiment of the present invention, so thedetailed description is not provided. Further, in the refrigerator, whenthe freezer compartment temperature TF becomes unsatisfactory due to achange in load of the standby mode C, the stabilizing mode A″ may bestarted again. The refrigerator may go back to the standby mode C afterthe stabilizing mode A″, after sequentially performing the normalcooling mode B′, and the freezer compartment-additional cooling mode D,and the stabilizing mode A″, after sequentially performing the normalcooling mode B′, and the freezer compartment-additional cooling mode D,and the standby mode C can be repeated.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling therefrigerator according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

The method of operating a refrigerator according to the embodiment mayperform a step (initializing step) of starting the compressor 40 thatcompresses a refrigerant and of starting the condenser fan 50 that sendsair to the condenser 44, when the freezer compartment temperature TF isnot satisfactory (S21)(S22′).

The compressor 40 can suck and compress the refrigerant in theevaporator 49 and the condenser fan 50 can send air to the condenser 44.When the compressor 40 and the condenser 50 are started, the refrigerantcontrol valve 54 between the condenser 44 and the evaporator 49 has beenclosed, the blower fan 6 circulating air through the evaporator 49 andthe freezer compartment F is in stop, and the refrigerant compressed bythe compressor 40 is collected in the condenser 44.

The method of operating a refrigerator can perform a step (freezercompartment cooling step of starting the blower fan 6 and opening therefrigerant control valve 54, when a first predetermined time passesafter the compressor 40 is started (S23′)(S24′).

When the refrigerant control valve 54 is opened, the refrigerant in thecondenser 44 can flow to the expansion device 48 through the refrigerantcontrol valve 54 and can be sucked into the compressor 40 after passingthe compressor 40, condenser 44, refrigerant control valve 54, expansiondevice 46, and evaporator 49. With the blower fan 6 operating, the airin the freezer compartment F can flow to the evaporator 49 and exchangeheat with the refrigerant and the air cooled by the evaporator 49 can besupplied to the freezer compartment F and cool the freezer compartmentF. As time passes, the freezer compartment F can gradually decrease intemperature and freezer compartment temperature TF may becomesatisfactory.

The method of operating a refrigerator can perform a step (a freezercompartment-additional cooling step) of stopping the condenser fan 50and closing the refrigerant control valve 54, when the freezercompartment temperature is satisfactory (S25)(S26). Further it canperform a step (standby step) of stopping the compressor 40 and theblower fan 6, when a second predetermined time passes after thecondenser fan 50 is stopped (S27)(S28).

The freezer compartment-additional cooling step and the stand by stepare the same as or similar to those in the fifth embodiment of thepresent invention, so the detailed description is not provided. Thetemperature of the freezer compartment F gradually increases in thestandby step of the refrigerator, the freezer compartment temperature TFmay become unsatisfactory due to a change in load in the standby step ofthe refrigerator, the method of operating a refrigerator may start againthe initializing step (S21)(S22), and the method of operating arefrigerator may repeat the initializing step (S21)(S22), the freezercooling steps (S23)(S24′), the freezer compartment temperature issatisfactory (S25)(S26), and the standby step (S27)(S28).

What is claimed is:
 1. A refrigerator comprising: a body having afreezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment formed therein; arefrigeration cycle system disposed in the body, including a compressor,a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator through which arefrigerant sequentially passes, and to cool air with the refrigerant; ablower fan to send the air cooled by the evaporator to the freezercompartment and the refrigerator compartment; and a damper to regulatethe air sent from the evaporator to the refrigerator compartment,wherein when the freezer compartment temperature is not satisfactory andthe refrigerator compartment temperature is satisfactory, therefrigerator operates in a concurrent operation mode in which thecompressor is operated, the damper is opened, and first voltage isapplied to the blower fan, and when the freezer compartment temperatureis not satisfactory and refrigerator compartment temperature issatisfactory in the concurrent operation mode, the refrigerator operatesin a freezer compartment single operation mode in which the compressoris operated, the damper is closed, and second voltage lower than thefirst voltage is applied to the blower fan.
 2. The refrigerator of claim1, wherein when the freezer compartment temperature becomes satisfactoryin the freezer compartment single operation mode, the compressor isstopped and the voltage applied to the blower fan is stopped.
 3. Therefrigerator of claim 1, wherein when the freezer compartmenttemperature becomes satisfactory in the freezer compartment singleoperation mode, the refrigerator operates in a blower fan-additionaloperation mode in which the compressor is stopped and the blower fan iskept operating for a predetermined time.
 4. The refrigerator of claim 3,wherein when the predetermined time passes, the voltage applied to theblower fan is stopped.
 5. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein thesecond voltage is applied to the blower fan in the blower fan-additionaloperation mode.
 6. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein third voltagelower than the second voltage is applied to the blower fan in the blowerfan-additional operation mode.
 7. A method of operating a refrigeratorcomprising: operating a compressor, opening a damper regulating aircooled by an evaporator and supplied to the refrigerator compartment,and applying first voltage to a blower fan sending the air cooled by theevaporator to the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment,when the freezer compartment temperature is not satisfactory and therefrigerator compartment temperature is not satisfactory; and keepingthe compressor operating, closing the damper, and applying secondvoltage lower than the first voltage to the blower fan, when the freezercompartment temperature is not satisfactory and the refrigeratorcompartment temperature becomes satisfactory.
 8. The method of claim 7,further comprises stopping the compressor and stopping the secondvoltage applied to the blower fan, when the freezer compartmenttemperature becomes satisfactory while the second voltage is applied tothe blower fan.
 9. The method of claim 7, further comprises stopping thecompressor and keeping the blower fan operating for a predeterminedtime, when the freezer compartment temperature becomes satisfactorywhile the second voltage is applied to the blower fan.
 10. The method ofclaim 9, wherein the second voltage applied to the blower fan isstopped, after the predetermined time passes.
 11. The method of claim 9,wherein the second voltage is applied to the blower fan for thepredetermined time.
 12. A refrigerator comprising: a body having afreezer compartment formed therein; a refrigeration cycle systemdisposed in the body, including a compressor, a condenser, a hot line,an expansion device, and an evaporator through which a refrigerantsequentially passes; a blower fan to circulate the air in the freezercompartment through the evaporator and the freezer compartment; acondenser fan to send air to the condenser; and a humidity sensor tosense humidity, wherein when the freezer compartment temperature is notsatisfactory and the humidity sensed by the humidity sensor is less thana predetermined level, first power is inputted to the compressor and thecondenser fan is operated in a first rotational speed, and when thefreezer compartment temperature is not satisfactory and the humiditysensed by the humidity sensor is at the predetermined level or more,second power higher than the first power is inputted to the compressorand the condenser fan is rotated at a second rotational speed lower thanthe first rotational speed.
 13. A method of operating a refrigerator,comprising: sensing humidity with a humidity sensor; operating acondenser fan to send air to a condenser at a first rotational speed andinputting first power to a compressor compressing a refrigerant, whenthe sensed humidity is less than predetermined humidity and the freezercompartment temperature is not satisfactory, and operating the condenserfan at a second rotational speed lower than the first rotational speedand inputting second power higher than the first power to thecompressor, when the sensed humidity is at the predetermined humidity ormore and the freezer compartment temperature is not satisfactory.
 14. Arefrigerator comprising: a body having a freezer compartment formedtherein; a refrigeration cycle system disposed in the body and includinga compressor, a condenser, a refrigerant control valve, an expansiondevice, and an evaporator through which a refrigerant sequentiallypasses; and a blower fan to circulate the air in the freezer compartmentthrough the evaporator and the freezer compartment, wherein when thefreezer compartment temperature is not satisfactory, the compressor andthe blower fan are started first and then the refrigerant control valveis opened, and when freezer compartment temperature becomes satisfactoryafter the refrigerant control valve is opened, the refrigerant controlvalve is closed first and then the compressor and the blower fan arestopped.
 15. The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein the refrigerantcontrol valve is opened when a first predetermined time passes after thecompressor and the blower fan are started.
 16. The refrigerator of claim15, wherein the compressor and the blower fan are stopped when a secondpredetermined time passes after the refrigerant control valve is closed.17. The refrigerator of claim 14, further comprising a condenser fan tosend air to the condenser, wherein the condenser fan is operated withthe compressor and stopped with closing of the refrigerant controlvalve.
 18. A method of operating a refrigerator, comprising: starting acompressor compressing a refrigerant and starting a condenser fansending air to a condenser and a blower fan circulating air through anevaporator and the freezer compartment, when the freezer compartmenttemperature is not satisfactory; opening a refrigerant control valedisposed between the condenser and the evaporator, when a firstpredetermined time passes after the compressor, the condenser fan, andthe blower fan are started; stopping the condenser fan and closing therefrigerant control valve, when the freezer compartment temperaturebecomes satisfactory; and stopping the compressor and the blower fanwhen a second predetermined time passes after the refrigerant controlvale is closed.
 19. A refrigerator comprising: a body having a freezercompartment formed therein; a refrigeration cycle system disposed in thebody and including a compressor, a condenser, a refrigerant controlvalve, an expansion device, and an evaporator through which arefrigerant sequentially passes; and a blower fan to send air cooled bythe evaporator to the freezer compartment, wherein when the freezercompartment temperature is not satisfactory, the compressor is startedfirst and then the refrigerant control valve is opened and the blowerfan is started, and when freezer compartment temperature becomessatisfactory after the refrigerant control valve is opened, therefrigerant control valve is closed first and then the compressor andthe blower fan are stopped.
 20. The refrigerator of claim 19, whereinthe refrigerant control valve is opened when a first predetermined timepasses after the compressor is started, and the blower fan is startedwhen the first predetermined time passes after the compressor isstarted.
 21. The refrigerator of claim 20, wherein the compressor andthe blower fan are stopped, when a second predetermined time passesafter the refrigerant control valve is closed.
 22. The refrigerator ofclaim 20, further comprising a condenser fan to send air to thecondenser, wherein the condenser fan is operated with the compressor andstopped with closing of the refrigerant control valve.
 23. A method ofoperating a refrigerator, comprising: starting a compressor compressinga refrigerant and starting a condenser fan sending air to a condenser,when the freezer compartment temperature is not satisfactory; opening arefrigerant control vale disposed between the condenser and theevaporator, when a first predetermined time passes after the compressor,the condenser fan, and the blower fan are started; stopping thecondenser fan and closing the refrigerant control valve, when thefreezer compartment temperature becomes satisfactory; and stopping thecompressor and the blower fan when a second predetermined time passesafter the condenser fan is stopped.